Wrench



Feb 2 1937. F. M. JUSTICE 2,069,582 i WRENCH Filed April 30, 1936 INV ENTOR Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE 1 Claim.

The invention relates toI a wrench and more especially to an adjustable end wrench.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of this character, wherein movable and fixed jaws are so arranged with relation to the handle to be convenient in the use thereof and the movable jaw may be spread or brought together relative tothe stationary jaw and when so adjusted the Wrench may -be used as a straight end wrench.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of this character, wherein the movable jaw may be opened with relation tothe stationary jaw through the instrumentality of a trigger and thus the movable jaw can be conveniently adjusted for engaging the work with the stationary jaw without liability of slippage from the work in the use of said wrench, the Wrench in its entirety being of novel construction.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of this character, wherein the jaws under adjustment of one of the same will enable these to be opened to a maximum extent and the movable jaw is readily adjustable by a touch of the finger of the user of the wrench so that work can be grasped for the manipulation thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of this character which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in its operation, strong, durable, readily and easily adjusted, will not become clogged, and is inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of the wrench constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an edge elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation partly in section of the head end of the wrench.

Figure 4 is a sectional View of the line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an edge elevation of the combined gear and ratchet Wheel employed in the wrench.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the wrench comprises a straight shank I0 constituting the lever or handle although such shank tapers inwardly in the direction of an enlarged substantially triangular shaped head I I, it being formed with a stationary jaw I2 for coaction with a movable jaw I3.

This movable jaw I3 is built upon a rack I4 slidably fitting within a way I5 formed in the head I I. The rack at one edge is provided with teeth I6, these being arranged in a double row spaced from each other and meshing with gear teeth I'I peripherally formed on a combined gear and ratchet wheel I8 rotatably arranged within a cavity I9 formed in the head I I.

The wheel i8 is journaled upon an aXle 2Il f1tting the head I I and threaded in a removable cover plate 2i for said cavity I9. The wheel I8 intermediate of the gear teeth I'I thereof has ratchet teeth 22 for engagement by a swinging ratchet pawl or dog 23 pivoted at 24 in the head I I. The pawl or dog 23 is iitted within a clearance 25 provided in said head II and at its free end projects exteriorly of the said head and is formed with an enlarged button-like terminal 26 to permit manual manipulation of the said pawl or dog. In the clearance 25 is iiXed a leaf spring 2l which adjusts the dog or pawl 23 into ratchet engagement with the ratchet teeth 2Q of the wheel I8 thereby permitting the rack I4 to move in one direction within the way I5 but locked against movement in the reverse direction.

The rack Hl has formed therein an elongated bore or recess 28 closed at the inner end and opened through said rack at its inner end to accommodate a coiled expansion spring 29, the same being for a proportion of its extent about a guide pin 30 which at its outer end through the eye 3| is pivoted at 32 to the head II adjacent to the stationary jaw I2. This spring 29 functions to move the jaw I3 away from the jaw i2 when the wheel I8 is freed. by the pawl or dog 23, that is to say, when the ratchet teeth 22 are disengaged from the companion ratchet teeth of the pawl or dog 23 and thus the said wrench at the jaw end thereof will be automatically opened to its fullest extent. Now it is only necessary to slightly press upon the movable jaw I3 to bring the same toward the stationary jaw I2 so that these jaws can firmly grip a piece of work and in this position of the movable jaw when coacting with the fixed jaw I2 the wheel I8 will be latched by the pawl or dog 23 thus holding the wrench engaged with the work.

'Ihe structure in its make-up embodies in the wrench the characteristic of an adjustable end wrench.

The movable jaw has ratchet action when the same is adjusted in the direction of the stationary or Xed jaw I2 and in this fashion accurate and close adjustment with respect to Work can be had.

The end of the shank I0 opposite the head Il has fitted therein a ratchet acting socket wrench attachment 33.

What is claimed is:

A Wrench of the character described comprising a shank forming a handle, a substantially triangular shaped head at one end of the handle and having a fixed jaw laterally offset to said handle, the head being cut away at one side for forming a Way crosswise of the head and at an angle to the handle, a movable jaw, a slide rack tting said way and having the movable jaw formed therewith intermediate its ends for coachead for straddling the wheel between the gear teeth thereon and coacting with the ratchet teeth of said wheel, a spring active upon the pawl for urging the same into engagement with the ratchet teeth of the Wheel, and means active upon the rack for sustaining the same tensioned when.

the movable jaw approaches or recedes from the fixed jaw.

FRED M. JUSTICE. 

